12,000 jam Jingle Bell Run for 'really good cause'
SEATTLE - Thousands of people in Santa hats swarmed downtown Seattle on Sunday for the annual Jingle Bell Run.
But the sea of costumed runners charging through the city was about more than having a good time at the holidays - the runners raised more than a half-million dollars to help find a cure for arthritis.
"I like helping people, you know, and just making sure that everyone can feel good, you know - and I like doing it," said runner Brooke Hoppe.
Some participants let their imaginations run wild, too, as they outdid each other with their costumes.
Ann Stevens came dressed not as a Santa or an elf, but as a type of jungle vine called Iahawaska.
"Our team is the Children's Hospital Jingle Jangle Jungle team," she explained.
Just seeing everyone involved in a worthy cause while having fun was the main motivation for some, like Lesley Mettler, who said she was there to "enjoy the costumes and see everybody in Seattle."
But of course no one forgot the true purpose of the event.
"Arthritis! The cure for arthritis!" shouted Jackie and Cali Sullivan.
"It's very dear to us. We both have family members that are affected with arthritis. So we're glad to support," said Carol Jacobi.
Added runner Rita Okrent: "It's just a really good cause. My mother is afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, and it's really just a debilitating disease."
The 12,000 runners raised more than $500,000 this year.
"First of all, there's 46 million people in the U.S. that have doctor-diagnosed arthritis," said Dave Hill, chairman of the Jingle Bell Run Chair. "It's the leading problem with people all over the country in terms of the terrible problems it does with people's lives."
Seattle started the first Jingle Bell Run in the country 25 years ago - and even with the down economy, this year was the most successful one yet.
But the sea of costumed runners charging through the city was about more than having a good time at the holidays - the runners raised more than a half-million dollars to help find a cure for arthritis.
"I like helping people, you know, and just making sure that everyone can feel good, you know - and I like doing it," said runner Brooke Hoppe.
Some participants let their imaginations run wild, too, as they outdid each other with their costumes.
Ann Stevens came dressed not as a Santa or an elf, but as a type of jungle vine called Iahawaska.
"Our team is the Children's Hospital Jingle Jangle Jungle team," she explained.
Just seeing everyone involved in a worthy cause while having fun was the main motivation for some, like Lesley Mettler, who said she was there to "enjoy the costumes and see everybody in Seattle."
But of course no one forgot the true purpose of the event.
"Arthritis! The cure for arthritis!" shouted Jackie and Cali Sullivan.
"It's very dear to us. We both have family members that are affected with arthritis. So we're glad to support," said Carol Jacobi.
Added runner Rita Okrent: "It's just a really good cause. My mother is afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, and it's really just a debilitating disease."
The 12,000 runners raised more than $500,000 this year.
"First of all, there's 46 million people in the U.S. that have doctor-diagnosed arthritis," said Dave Hill, chairman of the Jingle Bell Run Chair. "It's the leading problem with people all over the country in terms of the terrible problems it does with people's lives."
Seattle started the first Jingle Bell Run in the country 25 years ago - and even with the down economy, this year was the most successful one yet.